Goren on Bridge

Can anyone consider themselves unlucky after going down in a slam off two fast losers in a suit bid by their opponent? Consider the case for South in today’s deal, which took place at a competition in India. West was legendary Indian expert Subhash Gupta.

Gupta was “walking the dog” with the West hand, hoping to buy it in four or five hearts, doubled. Indeed, his hand would produce 11 tricks playing in hearts most days. South’s jump into Blackwood with two low hearts was a poor choice. He should probably have bid four diamonds to give his partner a chance to make a control bid in hearts. We have no idea what North meant with his five no-trump bid, but there was likely no stopping South in any event.

Gupta felt that he had to bid six hearts over six diamonds. South couldn’t have more than one heart, Gupta thought, for his slam bid and six hearts would be cheap insurance. North doubled to stop the madness but South soldiered on to six spades. Gupta had to consider his defense. He might try underleading his massive hearts. If partner had as little as the 10 of hearts, they could defeat the slam with a diamond ruff. Gupta is considered the world record holder, we are told, in underleading honors to get a ruff.

Gupta calmly cashed the first two hearts to defeat the contract. South told everyone who would listen about his bad luck. North went straight to the bar to look for a new partner.

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